Meghalaya govt to take steps against corporal punishment in schools

Shillong, Nov 12 (UNI) Meghalaya Higher and Technical Education Minister Manas Chaudhuri today said corporal punishment in schools should not be resorted to under any circumstances.

''We shall reiterate government directions to all education department officers and schools in the state that corporal punishment should not be resorted to under any circumstances,'' Mr Chaudhuri told the Assembly.

Answering to a Call Attention Motion moved by Lahkmen Rymbui (Congress), the Education Minister said strict instructions will also be issued that indiscipline will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Earlier, Mr Rymbui brought to the attention of the House that six school students of Nongtalang Secondary School in Jaintia Hills district, bordering Bangladesh, were hospitalised owing to the torture meted out to them by the school headmistress.

The Congress Legislator further informed the House that the Headmistress punished the students by making them stand in the scorching heat of the sun in the school compound and all of them collapsed on the ground which led to hospitalisation in the nearby Community Health Centre.

The Education Minister, however, told the House that a departmental enquiry was made by the Inspector of Schools of the district, besides the District Magistrate had enquired into the incident. The matter was later settled amicably between the students, teachers and the headmistress, Mr Chaudhuri informed.

''We shall take all necessary steps to ensure that such incidents do not recur in future,'' the Education Minister assured.